No answer for why Colts waived Vick Ballard

Indianapolis Colts running back Vick Ballard (26),right, sits on the bench in the second quarter of the final preseason game against the Bengals at Lucas Oil Stadium on Thursday, September 3, 2015.(Photo: Matt Detrich/The Star)

“You're going to pump the brakes before you let someone with that talent just walk out your door,” general manager Ryan Grigson said after the decision. “He's had some minor dings. They're not majors. We'll just take it day-by-day with him.”

Ballard was still dealing with the same injury this week – and the Colts released him.

Because he was waived/injured, Ballard reverted to the Colts’ injured reserve list after clearing waivers on Thursday. But even two days after the decision to release the team’s leading rusher in 2012, the Colts still haven’t offered an answer that sheds any real light on why the move was made.

“He wasn’t healthy and we needed a body,” Colts coach Chuck Pagano said Thursday. “We did what we thought was best for the team.”

What that means, in essence, is that the Colts needed linebacker Josh McNary — he was the player promoted to take Ballard’s spot on the roster — so badly that they cut a player they praised effusively just over a week ago.

McNary will likely be involved on special teams, an area where the Colts are looking for some improvement. But outside of that role, the Colts have a logjam at inside linebacker and there seemed little urgency to promote another one.

Ballard’s release comes after the Colts waived/injured running back Boom Herron on Sept. 6 following a shoulder sprain that was only expected to keep him out a few weeks. Herron cleared waivers and later was released from injured reserve with an injury settlement. He is now a free agent.

The Colts have three running backs currently on the roster: starter Frank Gore and backups Josh Robinson and Tyler Varga.